Natalie Barr has put the question on the minds of many Australians after a 16-year-old boy allegedly attacked a high-profile bishop during a live-streamed sermon in western Sydney.
In a video of the attack, the boy dressed in black is seen approaching and stabbing Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the head and chest at the altar of Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley at around 7.10pm on Monday .
Horrified parishioners are seen rushing to the bishop’s aid while others grabbed the attacker and held him captive inside the church.
The terrorist attack sent shockwaves across Australia after six innocent shoppers were killed at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday.
Barr asked former NSW Police deputy commissioner Mick Willing how the alleged attacker could have been radicalized.
She asked, “Where does someone like that come from?” Are they somehow sitting on their computer, in their spare room, transformed into terrorists?
Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked former NSW Police deputy commissioner Mick Willing how the alleged attacker was able to be radicalized.
A man dressed in black approaches and stabs Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in the head and chest on the altar of Wakeley Church during a sermon on Monday evening.
Mr Willing said it was a “difficult question” to answer due to the limited amount of information currently known about the alleged attacker’s background.
“In answer to your question Nat, it happens sometimes,” he said.
“Sometimes people become radicalized online, sometimes in different ways. Each situation like this is unfortunately unique.
“This will all be part of the investigation, they will search the funds of various agencies to see whether or not he was known to the authorities.”
The 16-year-old boy was captured on livestream of the attack shouting “Allahu Akbar” as he stabbed the bishop in the head, neck and torso at least eight times.
Horrified parishioners sprang into action, with some rushing to the bishop’s aid and others helping to arrest the teenager inside the church.
The video shows the alleged attacker, aged 16, being arrested by police on the ground inside the church before speaking in Arabic.
It is understood that the words translate as: “If he had not insulted my Prophet, I would not be here.” If he wasn’t involved in my religion, I wouldn’t be here.
One of the men responsible for subduing the teenager after the attack, before police arrived, described how he approached the teenager from behind and forcefully pushed him to the ground.
“He kept saying, ‘Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,’” the man said in a video posted on social media.
The Australian National Council of Imams and the Australian Muslim community have unequivocally condemned the attack on Bishop Emmanuel.
“These attacks are horrific and have no place in Australia, particularly against places of worship and religious leaders,” they said in a statement.
Shocking new details emerge from teen’s criminal record
The teenager was charged with several offenses after an incident at a Sydney train station in November last year, the ABC reported.
The charges included possession of a knife, being armed with a weapon with intent to commit a criminal act, criminal harassment and/or intimidation and recklessly destroying or damaging property.
He had been released on bail before his court appearance in January, where the charges were “proven” but dismissed on the good behavior bond.
The outlet reported that no supervision order was in place when he allegedly carried out the attack Monday evening.
It comes amid revelations that the 16-year-old boy arrested following the attack had recently been given a good behavior bond for knife crime (pictured, Church of Christ the Good Shepherd)
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel’s life was saved when his alleged attacker’s knife failed to open properly, his close friend Danny Abdallah revealed on Tuesday.
A “miracle” saves the life of a bishop
Mgr Mar Mari Emmanuel’s life was saved when his alleged attacker’s knife failed to open properly.
Close friend Danny Abdallah spoke to the bishop as he recovered in hospital overnight and revealed new details about the incident on Tuesday morning.
Mr Abdallah – who lost three of his children and his niece to a drunken and drugged driver – called the bishop’s miraculous escape an “act of God”.
The bishop remains in hospital after undergoing surgery on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, temporary powers have been granted to police to search people, vehicles and property following the alleged attack.
The incident was declared a terrorist act by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and confirmed by the Police Minister, triggering legislation in the state.
Officers will be able to search people, vehicles and properties without a warrant, set up road blocks, cordon off areas and demand confirmation of identification.
The powers, granted to prevent any further attacks, will last two weeks.
dailymail us
